Plunder-Chapter 171: Who Are They?

Two people, one old and one young, walked one after the other.

Butler Han’s steps were faltering; he walked very slowly, and Qiao En followed, slowing down as well.

The An family’s small utility room was a place for storing discarded items. Butler Han took a key off his waistband and shakily opened the door.

The room was dim, and a smell of dust rushed to meet them.

He walked inside and turned on the light in the room.

The incandescent bulb lit up, revealing the furnishings inside the room.

Butler Han walked deeper in, each step taken with difficulty.

"Are you really Niannian?"

Butler Han turned his back and asked again as if to confirm.

Qiao En nodded, "I am."

She rarely lied, but each time she did, it appeared especially convincing.

"Director Lu, long time no see."

Qiao En exposed Butler Han’s true identity.

His hunched back stiffened slightly; he neither admitted nor denied.

He moved an old trunk, and after much effort, he managed to open it.

"What you’re looking for is inside; take your time and look."

Butler Han said this, then sighed deeply and slowly walked towards the outside.

Qiao En’s curiosity was overwhelming; without much thought, she bent down and began searching through the trunk for the items she needed.

The trunk contained many yellowed file folders, each labeled with a name.

Qiao En searched through them one by one until she found Su Nian’s folder at the very bottom.

The folder was very thin.

Qiao En untied the cotton thread, and a photo fell out.

In the black-and-white photo, a young couple was holding two newborn babies.

They were dressed simply, faces glowing with happy smiles, with the infants looking dazed and unaware in their embrace.

Aside from that photo, there was nothing else in the folder.

Qiao En flipped the photo over and unexpectedly found an address written on the back.

Strangely, Qiao En recognized the address—it was exactly where Qiao En’s parents lived in Tube Building.

At that moment, a string of questions formed in her mind.

Infants, couple, Qiao En’s parents, and herself...

Qiao En’s breathing became more rapid; she didn’t have time to think further, quickly stuffing the photo into her purse.

The truth she had always anticipated seemed within reach.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

Outside the utility room, Butler Han had returned.

"Mhm,"

Qiao En replied.

"Secretary Cheng, let’s go."

Cheng Lu appeared from the living room and called out loudly when he saw Qiao En and Butler Han standing by the utility room.

"I’ll be going now; thank you,"

Qiao En expressed her gratitude and quickly left.

On the way back, she was somewhat distracted.

She had never seen that group photo at the Qiao family home, and Qiao En was sure, the people in the photo were not Qiao En’s parents.

But if it wasn’t them, then who were the people in the photo?

Why would their address be left on the photo? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"What’s the matter with you?"

Zhou Jin’an noticed Qiao En’s unusual behavior; she had been perturbed ever since leaving the An family.

But Qiao En just shook her head, "I’m just a bit tired."

She wouldn’t say anything.

Once they arrived at Chengnan Apartment, Zhou Jin’an followed her upstairs.

"Tell me the truth, what exactly happened? Speak up, and I can help you."

Zhou Jin’an took a direct approach.

He and Qiao En had been through many misunderstandings in the past, and now that they had finally come together after much difficulty, he wanted them to be honest with each other.

But Qiao En yawned a long yawn, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Mr. Zhou, I’m really just tired; you’re overthinking it."

She was hiding something from him and had no intention of telling him.

Zhou Jin’an didn’t press her, his eyes only darkened slightly.

"Well then, be sure to tell me if you need any help."

"Mhm."

Zhou Jin’an had not been gone for long when Qiao En also left the Chengnan Apartment.

What she didn’t know was that Zhou Jin’an wasn’t in the Maybach, but inside a store at the gate of the neighborhood.

Seeing Qiao En hurriedly get into a taxi, Zhou Jin’an also hailed one and followed.

After about five intersections, Qiao En entered a dessert shop.

Zhou Jin’an got out of the car too and found a safe place to wait outside the shop.

Inside the shop, Detective Wu had once again disguised himself as a woman and was sitting in a corner.

This time, his disguise was quite exaggerated.

A lace-edged sun hat, a bright red V-neck dress, he had put on heavy makeup, and his bright red lips were especially eye-catching.

"What do you want to meet with me so late for?"

Upon seeing Qiao En come in, he waved at her.

Qiao En sat down and started gulping down her coffee.

"Help me find two people."

As she spoke, she took out some photos.

"Black and white photos? Where did you get these?"

Detective Wu looked at the photos for a long while, finding two strangers from more than twenty years ago was not an easy task.

"This photo might be related to Su Nian’s origins. The address at the back is my family’s," she said.

"Your family’s?"

Asked Detective Wu suspiciously.

"Aren’t these your foster parents?"

Qiao En shook her head, "No, I’ve seen their photos when they were young."

"That’s strange then, if they’re not them, why would their address appear on this photo?"

Asked Detective Wu, puzzled.

But soon, he seemed to realize something.

"The two children in this photo, could one of them be you? If it’s you, then the other must be Su Nian? If it really is the two of you, then could this couple be your parents?"

He made a bold guess.

Qiao En didn’t speak, she just felt incredibly confused inside.

"Secretary Qiao, this is actually simple. Your foster mother is asking you for a favor, right? Use this photo in exchange with her, she must know the truth."

Of course, Qiao En knew that would work.

But after everything that had happened, she no longer wanted to see anyone from the Qiao Family.

There was a feeling of coldness, but even more so, she didn’t know how to face them.

Additionally, although she had been looking forward to knowing the truth, she now lacked the courage to face it.

"Forget it, I will look into it slowly myself."

Qiao En took the photos back.

The answer seemed to be right in front of her, but she couldn’t take that step.

"Secretary Qiao, think it over carefully, the truth might be more cruel than you imagine," warned Detective Wu.

In fact, Qiao En already had a premonition deep down.

But until that premonition turns into reality, she didn’t want to think too much about it.

"I know," she said.

Qiao En got up and walked out quickly.

What she hadn’t expected was to run into Zhou Jin’an just as she stepped out the door.

He was standing there, staring intently at Qiao En.

For a moment, Qiao En felt a bit flustered.

"Mr. Zhou, what are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

Zhou Jin’an asked coldly.

Qiao En was good at lying, but at that moment, her mind went blank, and she couldn’t come up with a good lie.

"Came for a drink,"

She lowered her eyelids and gripped the handle of her small bag tighter.

"Qiao En, what have you encountered? Why must you keep it a secret from me? You know I can help you."

Zhou Jin’an stepped closer, his tall and slim figure enveloping Qiao En.

Qiao En slowly lifted her head, and as her eyes met Zhou Jin’an’s, her heart suddenly calmed.

"Thank you, but you can’t help me this time,"

She didn’t pause for even a second, quickly stepping out of Zhou Jin’an’s line of sight.

She walked away, but Detective Wu wasn’t so lucky.

He had just changed into another outfit and walked out of the shop when Zhou Jin’an caught him red-handed.

"Detective Wu, long time no see!"